(LEAD) S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit 8-week low for Saturday amid Chuseok

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with details throughout; CORRECTS figure in para 2 following KDCA's correction)

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to the lowest tally for a Saturday in eight weeks, data showed, due largely to fewer tests carried out over the Chuseok holiday.

The country reported 42,724 new COVID-19 infections, including 237 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 23,976,673, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

Saturday's tally is sharply down from 69,410 the previous day. Daily infections have slowed after peaking at around 180,000 in mid-August in the latest virus resurgence.

It also marked the lowest figure for a Saturday since the 41,295 reported July 16.

South Korea added 48 COVID-19 deaths, down 20 from a day earlier, raising the death toll to 27,429. The fatality rate came to 0.11 percent.

The number of critically ill patients stood at 525, up 21 from the previous day.

Of the locally transmitted cases, Seoul accounted for 6,076, and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province added 10,947 cases. Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul, reported 2,223 additional infections.

The government has called for vigilance against the virus amid growing transmission risks, with heavy travel expected during the four-day Chuseok holiday that began Friday.

colin@yna.co.kr
(END)